Wilders backs French politician Le Pen after embezzlement conviction
Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders expressed strong support for French politician Marine Le Pen after her recent conviction for embezzlement. Wilders, leader of the Party for Freedom (PVV), called the ruling "incredibly tough" and voiced confidence in her ability to overturn the verdict on appeal. Wilders has long maintained close ties with Le Pen and her party.
“I am shocked by the incredibly tough verdict,” Wilders wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “I fully support her and believe in her 100 percent and I trust she will win the appeal and become President of France."
Le Pen, leader of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), was sentenced to a ban on holding public office for five years, Reuters reported. The penalty immediately threatens her plans to run for the French presidency in 2027. The ruling marks a serious setback for Le Pen, who has been the front-runner in opinion polls for the upcoming election.
The court also sentenced her to four years in prison, with two years suspended and two years to be served under home detention. Additionally, she was fined 100,000 euros. Le Pen’s lawyer confirmed that she will appeal the ruling, and while her prison sentence and fine will not be enforced until her legal options are exhausted, the ban from running for office takes effect immediately under a provisional execution measure requested by prosecutors.
